Nature
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Spencer Butte is an isolated volcanic hill on Eugene’s southern edge, rising 2,058 feet and dominating the skyline south of downtown. Possibly a volcanic plug, it has forested slopes of Douglas fir and a bare, rocky summit that makes it a distinctive landmark and a popular hiking destination from Spencer Butte Park. Before English naming, the Kalapuya called it Champ-a te or Cham-o-tee, meaning rattlesnake. The source of its present name is disputed, with accounts linking it to an Englishman, John C. Spencer, or Spencer Fullerton Baird. Even after a vandal cut down the summit’s lone Douglas fir in 2021, the butte remained central to Eugene’s geography and culture.
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Oregon · United States
